Question

Describe an activity to show that the particles of matter are very small.

Answer 1

Step-1:Aim of the experiment: To demonstrate that the particles of matter are very, very small.

Step-2:Apparatus required: Potassium Permanganate(KMnO₄) Crystals, five beakers, water.

Step-3:Procedure:

1. Take 2-3 crystals of potassium permanganate.
2. Put them in a beaker containing 100 mL of water and dissolve them in second beaker. After dissolving, beaker yields a deep purple potassium permanganate solution.
3. Pour 10 mL of potassium permanganate solution from the second beaker into 90 mL of clear water in the third beaker. Stir until the solution is uniform.
4. Remove 10 mL of potassium permanganate solution from the third beaker and place it in 90 mL of clear water in the fourth beaker.
5. Continue to dilute the solution like this 5 to 8 times.

Step-4:Observation:

The color of the potassium permanganate solution will gradually fade with each dilution.

Step-5:Conclusion:

1. Despite repeated attempts to reduce the purple color of this solution, it will not disappear completely after five-eight repetitions.
2. Even when the solution is very dilute, some colours will persist.
3. It is obvious that in a single crystal of potassium permanganate there must be millions of tiny particles that divide into smaller and smaller particles.